Attorney General Bondi Obtains Asset Freeze and Stops Nationwide Pools from Conducting Business During Ongoing Litigation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Four months ago, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office sued Nationwide Pools, Inc. for deceptive and unfair trade practices related to the company’s sale and construction of pools. However, according to an amended complaint filed by the Attorney General’s Office, Nationwide Pools transferred its assets to National Construction Group and continued its unfair and deceptive sales and marketing practices during this period of active litigation. During the time that it was transferring assets to the new company, Nationwide Pools was continuing to take payments and new deposits from consumers. On Monday, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office obtained an order from the Broward County Circuit Court freezing the company’s assets and enjoining the defendants from any further business related to pool construction and remodeling that could harm Florida’s consumers.

“We will not allow them to circumvent the litigation by creating and funneling money to a separate business in order to engage in the same alleged unfair and deceptive conduct,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The lawsuit filed in June alleged that Nationwide Pools, Inc. used a variety of false and deceptive marketing practices related to the sale and construction of pools, including: failing to pay subcontractors which caused liens to be placed on consumers' homes, making misrepresentations relating to pool financing, charging illegal credit card fees, making misrepresentations regarding manufacturer rebates and warranties, and failing to complete construction of pools. The amended complaint seeks consumer restitution and permanent injunctive relief banning the companies and their owners from future pool construction, along with a return of the assets that were transferred to National Construction Group. Consumers can report fraudulent activity by calling the Attorney General’s fraud hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226), or by filing a complaint online at MyFloridaLegal.com.